Metal boat hull construction



July 11, 1950 M. A. HALL METAL BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1944 July 11, 1950 M. A. HALL METAL BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1944 win/1&4? Q. M

Patented July 11, 1950 METAL BOAT'HULL CONSTRUCTION Marcus .A. Hall, Bethany, Conn., assignor, by 'mesne assignments, toaSteelcraft Boats, Inconporated, a corporation of Connecticut Applicationseptemb'er 14, 1944; Serial No. 554,024

14'Claims.

This'inventionrelatesto' boat hulls, and more particularly -to' boat" hullsconstructed of metal such'assteel. The" invention 'also'relates more particularlyto" the hull structure of 'a' boat of the speed-boat type, but the invention is not-1imited to'th'at particular application.-

One of the objectsis "to'- provide an improved metal *h'ull structures-- Another objectis' to provide-an improved structure in which-the-hull consists essentially of longitudinalmembers of -a;- raillikecharacter; and steel plates appliedto" those members exteriorly and connected thereto-"by continuous welds.

Another purpose-f the inven-tion is to make the hull very strong; while-atthe same time the cost of the .hull is decreased:

Another ob'ject is-to-providean improved chine structurefor metal boats. and also animproved keel structure;

To these and other'en'ds the invention-consists in the'novel features and' combinations ofparts to be hereinafter described and finally. pointed out'in the claims;

In the'accompanying drawings 2 Fig. 1 is aside-elevation of 'a boat hullemb'odying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a topplan view of-the same;

Figs. 3, 4; '5--and'i 6" are respectively sections onlines 3-3, 4-4; 5 -5; and 66 of- Fig..x1;

Fig. 3A shows-0n alargerscalescertain-of the parts shown in 'Fig: 3

Fig. 'Tis adetail sectiorrof -the keel portion; and

Figs. 8 and Q aredetail sections of the chine portion-v In the ex-ampleselected' for illustration: in the drawingsg -the hull isone suitable for aspeed' boat having a lengthmf- 'say 26' feet, this. dimension.

however, being given only by: way of example. The hull is constructed for thegreater partzof steel plate members, bent"tor :the required'rsh apeand""we1ded'inplace. The hull: isshown as equipped with anz: inboard" motor; but the .boat' may if desi-red' be driven -by an outboard' fmotor. In general, the hull 'is -=characterizedbye high. andwide bow usual in -speed boats; the-'bow having "a coveredil deck an'ditrearwardlys 'of the acleck an -open cockpit.- Along=- the-'- sides of 1' the. cockpit in this examplare contlnuationsof the forward deok-='plate:

In-"the= draw-ings, .transversesections of: the hull are shownrin -Figs. .13: 4; '5';and".;6, thefirst ot these -'being ta;ken nearthe stem; the? second: through the wide portion: 0f the: bow, the: third: through a narrowing-eportionr-of.vi the .cockpit, :and the iast1- (Rig-2 '-.6:) 'b'elng takeni atiaxpomtin'ear the '2 stern. From these-it-will-"be seenthat'near the stem the hull is characterized byahigh and narrow shape, generally' triangular, widening out into the shape o-f-Fig 4w-ith-a flattening of the bottom. InFig. 5the V of the bottom has further flattened, the side wallsare-shorter, and have less angle to the vertical In Fig. 6 "the bottom is further flattened, the side-walls'are further shortened, and the angles-of the side-wall to the vertical are reverse anglesas compared {to "Fig. 5.

This hull comprises essentially-a deck plate I0 of metal suchas steel, side p'lates H and I2; and bottom plates 1 3- and'14. The'plates referred to may be continuous'from'stemto stern, that is to say, in onepiece, or these plates can be made of sections suitably: interconnected 1 end to-end as by welding. The severalplates are' applied to longitudinalmemb'ers generally in thenature of rails, extendingfrom stem t'o-=stern,- or substantially so, and are applied'to saidmembers ex teriorly'and' fastenedthereto by continuous welds. 'Ilhese longitudinal rail li-ke members include; first, the member I5---which is the'keel'member, and second, the'memb'ers' [B and IT'which are chine members. Also included are members I-8- and I9 "which-serve to interconnectth -deck plate Ill-with the side plates ll andl'Z, and are of the nature ofi-sheer andfender members. The keel memberis shown in detail in'Fi'g'. 7, this section being taken at about the line 5 5-0f Fig. 1. Figs. 8 and'9 are detailsuof one'of the chine members, Fig. 8*being a section taken approximately at line 4- -4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 being a'section approxi matelyatli ne 5-'-5: I

The bottom plates 1'35 and -I 4 are connected to the :keel member "I 5 by continuous: welds.

prising a= Vertical-plate portion I 5', and integral therewith an' upwardly facing channel portion The channel portion l 5' is .apreferably ofti l'5.'. approximately thetsamethickness-as the plate portion: I 5'; and Sit -is preferably approximatelysemi-circular incross'section; being provided upon its exterior' with a :smoothugenerally cylindrical surface 20 which" servessfor the attachment of the? edge portionsz-of :th'e zbottomsplate members.

tinuous welds 2 I. meet' th channel member -at :different angles-at different points len'gthwise 7 ct the hull; but the plates impinge against.the=channeiv-tangentially attal l: orzthese p'oints;; and"= notwithstanding the Fig. '7, for example, illustratesthe keelimember as comnecting the plates to the keel member.

fact that, owing to the changing cross section of the hull there are a multiplicity of angles, the plate is efiectively connected to the keel member at all these points. As the bottom of the hull becomes flatter, the connection of the plate to the channel member is made farther down on the channel member. This in indicated in Fig. '7, where the full lines show the structure where the bottom is fiat, and the dotted lines show the side plates at a point nearer the bow The lower edge of the plate is in biased or inclined relation to the axis or longitudinal lin of the keel mem:

her and its channel.

In general the method of connecting the plates to a chine member is similar to that of con- The chine member I! (Fig. 8) has applied to it by a continuous weld 22 the bottom plate 14 and the side plate I2. The member H is a continuous sheet metal member of angular cross section, the cross section preferably being, as shown, that of a V having a rounded-over apex. The V is arranged with its apex directed outwardly with respect to the hull, and the plates at the respective sides are welded to the side walls of the V. As in the case of the keel member, the points of attachment of the plates to the chine member vary as the cross section of the hull varies. It will be noted that in Fig. 8, for example, the chine member projects laterally to a considerable extent beyond the adjacent plate members, thus providing a spray rail in this portion as well as a structural chine member. The spray rail portion of the chine, that is to say, the portion having this projecting position, runs from a point near the stem preferably to a point somewhat rearwardly of section line 4-4. The projection of the rail then ceases, or at any rate any substantial projection ceases, and the condition then is as shown in Fig. 9, where the intersection of the planes of the two hull plates coincide approximately with the apex of the chine rail. This. condition is generally similar in the section shown in Fig. 6, where, however, the angle between the side plate and the bottom plate is somewhat difierent, being an acute angle rather than an obtuse angle. In general it may besaid that the plates extend farthest down on the chine in the section of Fig. 6, that is, they extend closest to the apex of the V, whereas in the section of Fig. 3 they are farthest from the apex. It will be observed also that where a weld is far away from the apex it may have a considerable angle to the median plane 1 of the chine member, as represented at the upper partof Fig. 8, for .example.

While the angle of the median plane of the chine remainsapproxima'tely. constant, as just stated,

the angles of the hull plates associated with the chine (with respect to a given vertical plane) differ in the various transverse sections of the hull, the plates being attached to the chine at these various angles,aS has been brought out the preceding description.

Referring now to the elongated members I8 and I9, these are further members serving for the interconnection ofhull plates, as they serve to secure the side plates [I -and '12 to the deck plate H). In this case also the connection of the plate to the elongated member is made by a continuous weld, the plate being applied to the exterior of the elongated member. In the particular form shown the member It may be taken as an example of the upper rail member, and this comprises a sheet metal member of U shape, presenting a channel. In the present case a lip l8, integrally formed with the rail member on the lower flange or side, has a generally depending position. The rail I9 is similarly formed, having a lip 19. Each of these U-shaped rail members has its open portion innermost, and the median plane of the U is, in general, horizontally directed, as will be seen from the various sectional views, the median plane being approximately constant in its relation to the vertical throughout the length of the hull, as in the case of the chine members. The deck plate I!) rests on the upper flange or wall of the rail, and is welded thereto by a continuous weld similar to the welds previously described, and at diiierent positions lengthwise of the hull the deck plate has substantially the same general relation to the rail. However, in the case of the side plates of the hull the relation to the rail changes as the inclination of the side plates changes. Thus it will be'seen from Fig. 3 that the side plates, where they are welded to the rail, abut the body of the rail at some distance outwardly from the lips 18, I9, whereas in the section shown in Fig. 4 the lips l8, I9. are made use of to the extent that in making the weld the side plates at their edge. portions are engaged with and lapped over the lips l8, iii. A somewhat similar condition is shown in Fig. 5, although in this instance the side plates are more nearly vertical and the lips on the upper rails have been bent into a more nearly-vertical location for the purpose of making a proper lap joint. When the section of Fig. 6 is reached, the lips have been further bent'in order to be in proper relation to the side plates. v r

It will be noted further that the rails l8 and I9 act as combined sheer and fender members. They are sheer members because they aid in determining the sheer of the side plates, holding the latter in the desired sheer angles. They are fender members because they project laterally beyond the lines of the hull body, so as to act as bumpers in fending off the boat from a pier or the like. In the stem portion of the hull, as shown in Fig. 3, there is no lateral projection of these rails, but in a region intermediate the section lines 3-3 and 44 the projection of the rail, in the'manner stated, commences, and it will be evident. that in the-section of Fig. 4 the fender function is realized- This fender portion of the rail continues substantiallyto the stern, as ,will' be evidentfrom Figs. 5 and, 6. In the case of the margins of the rail'member 'andare applied to' said member at'the exterior of the rail member by continuous welds along the-edge portions-of the plate members, so as'to leave a portion of the rail'member exposed, atleast one of the plate.

members having difi'erent angular relationship to the vertical at differentpoints lengthwise of the hull, and having its welded edge at an inclina-- tion or bias to the longitudinal,v axis of the rail member so as to. be spaced at varying distances from one'of the margins of said rail member.

' It will be manifest. from theiore'going descripe;

gee-m1 tionthat the improvedhull structure is'characterized by great simplicity, inasmuch as a substantially, complete hull is" provided by the keel member, the chine members, the upper rail members, the side and bottom plates, respectively, and the deck plate. construction described, involving theplate. members fastenedto' the described rail members, is one having great strength. The rail members are of suchv cross section as to have great strength in themselyes. The keel member can be considered broadly asa rail member. The plates are attached to" these various rail members. at different angles, the angles usually varying continually lengthwise of the hull. The result is that, in the case of'a'ny given plate, its general plane is constantly changing lengthwise of the hull, which means that the plateas attached in place has a twist in respect to. atheoretical longitudinal axis, placing the plate'body in a multiplicity of different planes, the plate being held against two rail members while in thiscondition, and welded thereto. By this condition the hull is" g'jiven asurprisin amount of strength, so that it resists very effectively-stresses in any and all directions. Also as a result of this condition it is possible to use relatively light rail members, thefrail members being much lighter thanwould otherwise be .the case, In this method of construction thereis obvious cooperation of the forked or bifurcated rail members and the plate members in givingthe hull'strength andrigidity with the use of a minimum amount of metal, whereby the lightness of the; hull is increased greatly in comparison to prior metal hull structures.

It will be understood that while in the hull above described there is anrentire absence of inner frame members. inner. members can be used i'fdes'irdfbr imparting additionalstrength in certain cases. Also it will be understood that bulkheads, partition members or the like can be used if desired. For the sake of simplicity, how-'- ever, such members arenot shown in the draw- IIIg It will be'evident that by the use of a chine rail such as described, a portion" of the railis especially well adapted to act as aspray'rail, inasmuch as the lower flange portion or furcation of the rail is approximately horizontally disposed and in a laterally projecting position so'as to cause thespray to bethrown to'one side. The rounded apex portion of the rail is also of advantage because it does not create a sharp projection upon the exterior of the hull. The divergent side walls of the chine rail are also of advantage inasmuch as they enable the bottom plates and the side plates to be fastened in place in various positions and at various angles of inclination to the vertical.

I do not claim specifically herein the particular form and arrangement of the sheer rail, as this is claimed in my companion application, Serial No. 554,025, filed September 14, 1944, and patented February 15, 1949, as Patent No. 2,461,819.

While only a single embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in many different forms, and that various changes in the organization of parts and in the details can be made without departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a boat hull, the combination of an elongated longitudinal rail member of bifurcated emerge-chanextending lengthwise of the-hull; and plate members adjacent opposite margins'of said rail member and applied" to "said memberat the exterior of the railfmember by continuous welds along the edge portions of the plate members so as to leave a portion of the rail member exposed, at least one'of the plate members having different angular relationship to the vertical at different points lengthwiseof the hull andhaving its welded edge at an inclination or bias'fto the longitudinal axis of the rail'member soas to be spaced at varying distances from one'ofthe margins of said rail member.

2. In a boat hull, the combination of a rail member shaped to form a keel, railmemb'ers shaped to act as chines, rail members shap'ed'to act as sheer members, bottom plates appliedex'-' ternally by welds to the keel member. andthe chine members, and side plates applied externally by welds to the chine member and to the sheet members, the bottom plates and side plates being held in position under twist about longituadinal axes, the shape of the hull merging .from a wide high bow cross section to a shallow substantially flat bottomed section adjacent the stern, the chine members being of substantially V cross section and having their apices located toward the exterior of the hull, said chine members having projecting portionsad-jacent the bow in order to act as spray rails.

3. A boat hull havingv longitudinal hull plates disposed at different angles to the vertical and diiferent elevations and having adjacent side margins spaced from each other, and an elongated longitudinal rail member to which said side margins are applied exteriorly by continuous welds at the edges of the plates-with aportion of the rail'member exposed, said rail member being bifurcated in cross section and the plates being applied'to the respective furcations, at least one of said plates having its welded edge biased with respect to the longitudinal axis of the'rail member;

4. In a boat hull, an. elongated generally straight keel member having a plate and integral with the plate at the upperpart thereof a channel having a convex outer surface, and-a bottom plate for the hull set at an inclination so as to have an upper "edge a-ndalower edge, said loweredge engaging said convex outer surface along a line inclined with relation with the longitudinalaxis of the keel member and welded to said convex surface.

5. In a boat hull, the combination of a chine member, a bottom plate supported by said chine member, and a side plate supported by said chine member, said chine member being of substantially V cross section and having its apex located toward the exterior of the hull, the bottom plate and side plate being attached to the chine member progressively farther away from its apex in the forward portion of the hull.

6. In a boat hull, a rail member shaped to act as a chine, a bottom plate supported by said member, and a side plate supported by said member, said chine member being of substantially V cross section and having its apex located toward the exterior of the hull, the chine member bein projected from the hull in the bow portion, said plates being welded to the chine member adjacent its apex in the stern portion of the hull, and the side plate in the stern portion of the hull sloping upwardly and inwardly.

'7. In a boat hull, a keel member having an integral channel at the upper part thereof, said eels-.1

channel having a convex outer surface, and longi tudinal bottom plates for the hull welded to said convex surface at edges of said plates which are adjacent said surface, said edges beingplacecl higher on the keel member in the direction of the bow. 8. In a boat hull, a. keel member having an integral channeled upper portion, a pair of chine members of substantially V cross section having their apices located toward the exterior of the hull, and bottom plates having longitudinal edge portions welded to the channeled portion of the keel member and to the chine members, said plates being placed farther away from the apex of the chine member in the direction of the bow.

9. In a boat hull, the combination of an elongated rail member extending lengthwise of the hull, and plate members adjacent opposite margins of said rail member and applied to the rail member at the exterior of the rail member by continuous welds along the edge portions of the plate members so as to leave a portion of the rail member exposed, at least one of the plate members having different angular relationship to the vertical at different points lengthwise of the ,hull, said rail member being of bifurcated cross section, and said last-named plate member having its edge portion adjacent the rail member set at an inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rail member.

10. A boat hull having a side plate and a bottom plate joined together at their meeting edges by a welded lap joint, said la joint comprising a rib generally V-shaped in cross section extending outwardly along the lower edge of the side plate with its apex merging substantially flush with the hull side at the stern of the hull, and gradually extending outwardly from the side of the hull toward the bow and being substantially the full length of the V shape amidship and a lesser amount at the bow, and the adjacent edge of the bottom plate overlapping the lower arm of the V shape and being welded thereto.

11. A boat hull as defined in claim 10, in which the V-shaped rib is disposed along the adjacent edge of the bottom plate and welded to the edge of' the bottom plate and in which the side plate is welded to the upper arm or wall of the v shape.

12. A boat hull as defined in claim 10, in which the rib extends outwardly along an edge of the bottom plate which is upwardly disposed with the apex of the rib merging substantially flush with said upper edge at the stern of the hull.

13. In a boat hull, thecombination of an elongated longitudinal rail member of a bifurcated cross section extending lengthwise of the hull, and plate members adjacent opposite margins of said rail member and applied to said member at the exterior of the rail member by continuous welds along the edge portions of the plate members so as to leave a portion of the rail member exposed, at least one of the plate members having different angular relationship to the vertical at difierent points lengthwise of the hull and having its welded edge at an inclination or bias to the longitudinal axis of the rail member so as to be spaced at varying distances from one of the margins of said rail member, said rail member having the cross section of a V' whose walls are at substantially less than to each other.

14. In a boat hull, the combination of an elongated longitudinal rail member of a bifurcated cross section extending lengthwise of the hull, and plate members adjacent opposite margins of said rail member and applied to said member at the exterior of the rail member by continuous welds along the edge portions of the plate members so as to leave a portion of the rail member exposed, at least one of the plate members having different angular relationship to the vertical at different points lengthwise of the hull and having its weld" ed edge at an inclination or bias to the longitudinal axis of the rail member so as to be spaced at varying distances from one of the margins of said rail member, said rail member having a cross section in the shape of a U.

MARCUS A. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenceslare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,636,076 Ruthenburg July 19, 1927 1,674,665 Ruthenburg June 26, 1928 1,810,097 Wheeler June 16, 1931 2,162,822 Parsons June 20, 1939 2,246,579 Ewertz June 24, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 468,280 Great Britain July 1, 1.937 

